Americana Stamps

Lot #: 3147

1836 Liverpool Ship Letter

Mersea, nr. Windsor, Canada to Chelsea, England via Liverpool - April 15 1836


Postmarks: -
"MERSEA U.C. 15" Apl 36" in red, date in manuscript
"LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER" Robertson type S13 recorded 1834-38
"EX 6 JY 6 1836" (London)
"10 Fn 10 JY 7 1836" (London) in red
"10 Fn 10 JY 7 1836" (London Twopenny Post) in red

Transit time 83 days, confirmed by "Received July 7 1836".

Rate Markings: -
"1/1" Cy. - Rate for 201-300 miles
"U. States. 1/3" Overwritten 25 (U.S. cents) - the rate in the U.S
"PAID 2/4"
"1/7" (Stg) - 8d ship letter and 11d inland postage Liverpool-London,
"?? 2" (Stg) - 2d for the London Twopenny Post,

Using the nearest exchange point at Windsor, only 30 miles from Mersea, would only have cost 4½d in Canadian postage. Instead the letter probably went via the Lewiston exchange office. The Mersea Post Office had only been open 6 months on 15/4/1836 so the postmaster probably had little experience of cross border mail.
Opening: Make an Offer
Estimate: $1,000
Category: US Stampless, Canada to England